as in defunct
no longer existing
a few overgrown ruins are all that remain of that once mighty but now extinct civilization
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Recent Examples of extinct
Some people say the city columnist is extinct; some people say the job has morphed or evolved.
—
Eric Lach, New Yorker, 8 June 2025
The weaker strains have since gone extinct, according to new research.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 June 2025
Deep-seafloor-dwelling foraminifera, which were far away from the surface and were able to keep feeding on the remains of dead organisms, were mostly fine, but nine out of ten planktonic species went extinct.
—Tim Vernimmen, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 June 2025
Elsewhere, organised crime still has its tendrils in many parts of the sport across the globe, and the misty-eyed reverence for benevolent local tycoons is a notion that went extinct before the Tasmanian tiger.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for extinct
Eric Lach, New Yorker, 8 June 2025
The weaker strains have since gone extinct, according to new research.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 June 2025
Deep-seafloor-dwelling foraminifera, which were far away from the surface and were able to keep feeding on the remains of dead organisms, were mostly fine, but nine out of ten planktonic species went extinct.
—Tim Vernimmen, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 June 2025
Elsewhere, organised crime still has its tendrils in many parts of the sport across the globe, and the misty-eyed reverence for benevolent local tycoons is a notion that went extinct before the Tasmanian tiger.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for extinct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extinct
Adjective
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One is even housed in a former Old County Buffet, the now defunct all-you-can-eat restaurant chain which closed its last Illinois restaurant five years ago.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2025
-
Six years ago, two school executives from the now defunct A3 charter school were embroiled in controversy.—
Windi Eklund,
Oc Register,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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So many firsts, gone, charred to ash, just remnants of an area that once represented Black prosperity and joy.—
Maya Richard-Craven,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
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The original pioneers were mostly busy making non-hyperpop or gone: SOPHIE tragically died in 2021; 100 gecs spent years toiling to make their zany stadium-rock second album.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
3 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Tasks like taking out the trash, tossing expired items from the fridge and pantry, making the bed, and wiping down surfaces often will help maintain a clean house.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
14 June 2025
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The company’s claim that Lightfoot’s pandemic decree cost it millions comes despite the fact a Tribune investigation found the city issued more than 35,000 parking tickets during the time the mayor told motorists they wouldn’t get dinged for parking at expired meters.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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The county, which has aggressively sought redevelopment of its aging and obsolete housing projects, did not request the proposal from Bakehouse.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
20 June 2025
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The Accelerating Skills Gap According to the World Economic Forum, 39% of current skills are expected to change or become obsolete by 2030.—
Ramiro Gonzalez Forcada,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Extinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extinct. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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